Lodging

Not all dudes yearn after the guys-only Vegas blowout vacation. Any why should they? Get creative on your next mancation, aka vacation with the guys. Instead, try fishing in Mexico, skiing and snowmobiling in Wyoming or golfing in South Carolina.

Boca Paila Fishing Lodge in Riviera Maya, Mexico
During the day, catch snook, tarpon and Culebra snapper, then lounge on the beach drinking Tequila on the rocks as the sun sets. Trips to the nearby Mayan ruins can also be arranged. This small resort caters to only 18 guests at a time, so expect a low-key experience. Rates start at $385 a night based on double occupancy. Price includes three meals a day. Call 01-52-984-155-00-12 or email info@bocapaila.com.

A rustic fishing lodge in Mexico

A short walk to daily entertainment: fishing

Togwotee Mountain Lodge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Dubbed the ultimate snowmobile lodge, this outpost in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, caters to the winter sports set, offering access to skiing, snowboarding and more. Prices start at $119 for a half day snowmobile rental ($169 for a full day) without a guide (based on the rate for a beginner snowmobile). Guests are encouraged to bring their own. Rooms start at $140 plus tax, based on double occupancy. Cabins start at $190 plus tax; cabins have three beds and offer a taste of winter camping. For details, call 866-278-4245.

Snowmobiling in Wyoming

Opt for a cabin for the next boys' ski trip

Kiawah Island Golf Resort near Charleston, South Carolina
The Ocean Golf Course offers views of the Atlantic at each of the 18 holes. And, this course will host the 2012 PGA Championships. The three-room villas start at $270 per night. If golfing, drinking Bloody Marys and walking the beach aren’t enough to fill your days, you can always wrestle gators. Call 800-654-2924 for more details.

The Ocean Course

Special thanks to Boca Paila for the inviting lodge photos, Togwotee Mountain Lodge for the crisp shots of winter fun, and to Kiawah Island Golf Resort for the inviting shots of the resort and golf course.

Joe's year-round rental cabin in South Lake Tahoe.

A girl can take only so much fog.  So, after more than a week of gray, dreary mornings with the occasional blast of Arctic wind, I decided it was time for a dose of summer. The kind of summer that exists pretty much anywhere outside of San Francisco — sunshiny, hot, beach weather. Warm nights that only require only a sheet to sleep under.

Lake Tahoe, I thought to myself in a moment of inspiration, that’s just what our fog-shivering souls need! And though I could just have driven the family across a bridge for warmth, there is nothing like summer in Tahoe.

Turns out that my friend Joe’s cabin was available for the weekend and he offered it to us. He is in the process of leaving the management company that previously rented it and is now handling rentals himself.

The kitchen is well-equipped and open.

Joe’s cabin is in South Lake close to the Highway 89 and Highway 50 “Y” and quite easy to find. We drove at night so the kids could sleep and arrived at the cozy, immaculate, two-bedroom cabin with a gambrel-style roof in the dark.

It was perfect for us.

The kitchen is large, open and and well-equipped. The downstairs living space has two comfy couches (and one that felt like a pull-out — not so comfy), exposed wood and beams, a large dining room table, and a woodburning stove. The cabin has good feng shui and feels as though it had intuitively put together with thought behind it.

Retro Coca-cola memorabilia adorns the walls as opposed to the usual Tahoe kitsch. The entertainment system and wireless modem were both in working order, and carpeted stairs made it safer for our active toddler.

Upstairs the master bedroom has a second bath and across the hall a bunk room can sleep six. Extra bedding is piled neatly in the hallway.

In back is a postage stamp-sized, fenced in lawn with a grill and hot tub.

The cabin rents for $150 per night plus $150 for a cleaning fee and local occupancy tax.

Joe Mudnich’s Tahoe Cabin
2560 Chris @ Sierra Blvd
South Lake Tahoe
(415) 290-6438

Photo credit: Joe Mud

The town of Mount Shasta has many nice places to stay, with easy access to good restaurants. But for a true winter holiday stay at Mount Shasta Resort, located in a forest over-looking Lake Siskiyou, where the privacy and seclusion give you access to wild life that you probably won’t see in town.

Imagine awakening to a fresh snowfall. You look out your window to see deer nibbling on bushes and snow lightly dusting the trees. Grab your gear and head to the mountain for a full day of fun. And when you’re exhausted, come back to the resort where you curl up in your livingroom by the fire with family and friends, and soothe your weary muscles in an outdoor hot tub.

Deer nibbles on branches in the snow

The resort is just as much fun in the summer time, when golfing, hiking, and biking are the activities of the day. The resort features an annual Fourth of July celebration with fireworks, and many concerts throughout the season.

The next time you’re in Northern California, stay at the Mount Shasta Resort, where simplicity and tranquility are considered the norm.

Photos courtesy of farlane @ Flickr, and Mount Shasta Resort